Topic

Digital products: latest passive income trends

Printables, templates, ebooks, courses and the marketplaces that sell them (Etsy, Gumroad and others).

1. Sunday, October 25, 2026

   Etsy bans AI-generated recipes, patterns and instructions, and sets firmer AI rules for sellers

   Source: CNBC

   Etsy said on 22 October it will no longer allow AI-generated 'functional guides' such as crochet or sewing patterns and recipes, often sold as digital downloads. Sellers must show at least one unedited photo of the real item, can't create bot-generated listings with no human involvement, and must disclose AI use. AI-assisted art is still allowed if the seller plays a clear creative role.

   Why it mattersThe 'make printables with AI and sell them while you sleep' idea just got harder on Etsy: digital products now need real, tested work behind them.

2. Sunday, October 25, 2026

   Etsy Seller Handbook: what the new AI rules mean for listings

   Source: Etsy Seller Handbook

   Etsy's own 22 October handbook article explains the updated expectations for AI use and the new listing image requirements, which the company says are meant to protect buyer trust.

   Why it mattersIf you sell or plan to sell digital downloads, read the platform's own rules first; breaking them can get listings removed.